Greyhounds host Pioneer Valley for two games Saturday
Panthers take first game 10-9, Greyhounds win second 15-2
– The Atascadero Greyhound baseball team hosted Pioneer Valley of Santa Maria Saturday for a double-header. The teams are each near the top of the standings in the Ocean League. The Panthers won the first 10-9. The Greyhounds won the late game 15-2.
In the early game at 11 a.m., the Panthers scored eight runs in the third to take a 10-2 lead. The Greyhounds responded with two in the bottom of the third, one run in the 5th, and four more in the 6th, but fell short by one run. In that first game, Johnnie Debrum and Jake Hixenbaugh each hit a perfect 1.000. Johnnie went 4-4 with a double and a home run. He had 4 RBIs. Jake went 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Jake also had one walk.
In the second game, the Greyhounds scored seven runs in the second inning. Johnnie Debrum homered to right field. Jake Hixenbaugh doubled, although a Panther error allowed him to reach 3rd base. The team hit a remarkable average of .533 in the late game.
Jake Hixenbough went 4-4 in the second game. All four of his hits in the late game were doubles. On the day, Jake went 7 for 7 at the plate with five doubles. He is now hitting .551 for the Greyhounds with 13 doubles and 2 home runs.
Logan Gibbons and Donovan Kerry each went 2 for 3 in the second game. Jarom Damery and Johnnie Debrum went 2 for four. Drew Cappel, Jack Thompson, and Chase Viale each went 1-2.
The Greyhounds dominated the game, winning 15-2. The Greyhounds are tied with Cabrillo for the lead in the Ocean League.
Cabrillo has a 10-2 record in league. They are 20-4 overall. The Greyhounds are also 10-2 in league play, 20-5 overall. The Panthers are 8-2 in league. They are 13-5-1 overall. They are in third place in the Ocean League.
The Mission Prep Royals are in fourth with records of 7-5, and 15-10 overall.
The Greyhounds travel to Lompoc to play Cabrillo on Tuesday. They’ll play Cabrillo at home on Friday at 4:30. Those games will likely decide the Ocean League championship.
Pioneer Valley tailgaters.
-Report and photos by Richard Mason.
